Display device and blank therefor

ABSTRACT

A display device which includes an elongate strip of sheet material having a plurality of product carrying pockets each pocket being provided with a pair of laterally spaced front sections in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of an adjacent rear section of the elongate strip, each front section being attached to the rear section at its upper edge respectively, by way of upper bridge portions, further attachment between a further section of the rear section and the front sections is provided by a lower bridge portion intermediate the front sections and which is attached adjacent the lower edges thereof.

Related/Priority Application

This application is a National Phase filing regarding InternationalApplication No. PCT/GB2003/003363 which relies upon British ApplicationNo. 0218529.6 for priority.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to display devices and blanks for the same of atype similar to those known as strip merchandisers. Strip merchandisers,also known as clip-strips, generally comprise an elongate strip havingmeans thereon to carry multiples of product which can be suspended on orfrom a shelf or other retail display device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Strip merchandisers are widely used throughout the retail trade to takeadvantage of cross-selling opportunities between products and to createimpulse purchases without using valuable shelf space. They are alsouseful to display a plurality of discrete articles in a prominent mannerusing the least amount of available display area.

Examples of such strip merchandisers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,483,502 & 4,546,943.

As can be seen in the art, strip merchandisers are provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced hooks upon which product may be hung.Many items are sold in packaging having a convenient tab in which asuitable hole or slot can be made enabling the products to be readilydisplayed on a strip merchandiser. Unfortunately this is not alwayspossible or convenient, either the packaging size or shape does noteasily take a punched hole or slot, as in cosmetics sachets for example,or the product does not usually have any additional packaging, as in apaperback book. It is possible to attach tabs having slots therein toeach item. Tabs of this type are described in many Patent publicationsincluding WO00/26109; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,634; 5,020,761; and U.S. Pat.No. 4,890,809 but these can have their own disadvantages. The adhesiveon the tab may not always attach or remain attached to the product. Forexample the package may be a sachet which has been sealed by heatsealing or the like so that the edges of the sachet are no longer flatand do not readily adhere to the tab. In other cases, the adhesive maydamage the product, for example the cover of a book. It will also beapparent to one skilled in the art that these tabs invariably areapplied manually and the expense through added labour and material costsis not attractive. The current requirement from many retailers is forproducts to be delivered by the manufactures/wholesalers alreadyattached to a strip merchandiser. If product is damage or detached froma strip then there is every chance that the whole strip or event thebatch may be rejected.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a display deviceakin to a strip merchandiser whereby the disadvantages described abovemay be overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention a display devicecomprises an elongate strip of sheet material having a plurality ofproduct carrying pockets each pocket being provided with a pair oflaterally spaced front sections in a plane substantially parallel to theplane of an adjacent rear section of the elongate strip, each frontsection being attached to said rear section of the elongate strip, at oradjacent an upper edge thereof, by means of an upper bridge portion, afurther attachment between a further section of the elongate strip andthe front portions is provided by at least one lower bridge intermediatethe front portions and which is attached thereto at or adjacent thelower edges thereof and the pockets being arranged one above another sothat the front sections of an upper pocket are in integral and coplanarattachment with the rear sections of a pocket immediately below.

It will be seen that products may be held in the space defined by atleast the front and rear sections and the at least one lower bridgeportion. For additional security and to prevent accidental removal ofproducts from the pockets one or both of the front portions, may beprovided with detent means to firmly engage the product when located inthe pocket. Such detent means is preferably provided in both frontportions and may each comprise a tab adapted to abut either side of theproducts. The tab is preferably integral with the front portion.

The upper and lower bridge portions are preferably integral withrespective areas of the front and rear sections and may provided by partof the respective section thereof or in one embodiment are provided bysuch parts which extend therebetween substantially at right angles tothe substantially parallel planes, which parts being defined byfold-lines adapted to allow the bridge portions to remain substantiallyat rights angle to the parallel planes at least during use.

The display device may be provided with any convenient number of pocketswhich may be arranged continuously in stepped arrangement as describedabove. For convenience the display device is preferably provided withmeans to enable the loaded display device to be folded at least oncealong its length so that the loaded display device may be convenientlypacked in a suitable carton or other container for shipment. In oneembodiment the stepped arrangement is interrupted by an intermediateflat section of elongate strip which flat section carries means tofacilitate a fold. Such means to facilitate the fold may be provided bya score-line, perforations or any other convenient means. Whereperforations are provided that strip may also be readily split so as toproduce a series of shorter strips, which may suit a particular retaileror to remove a section of display device from which all the product hasbeen purchased.

Preferably the display device is provided at its head with means toattach the display device to other display apparatus. Such means may beprovided by a hole or slot or self-adhesive tape or by any otherconvenient means. Where the display device is capable of being split,further attachment means may be provided below the perforations in theintermediate flat section.

It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the displaydevice may be manufactured from a single sheet of material which sheetis provided with a series of cuts and fold lines which form the varioussections and portions of the pockets.

According to another aspect of the present invention a blank for adisplay device of the type having a plurality of product carryingpockets comprises an elongate sheet of suitable material having a pairof substantially parallel spaced lines of longitudinal cuts runningsubstantially centrally along at least one section of the sheetmaterial, a second pair of substantially parallel spaced lines oflongitudinal cuts running one each intermediate the first pair of linesand a respective edge of the sheet, adjacent cuts in the first andsecond lines being joined by a connecting cut between the leading and ofa respective cut in the second pair of lines and the trailing end of arespective cut in the first pair of lines so that each area of sheetbetween each respective pair of cuts in the first pair of lines and arespective nearest portion edge of the sheet defines a front section ofa pocket, each area of sheet between each respective pair of cuts in thesecond pair of lines and a respective nearest portion edge of the sheetdefines an upper bridge portion, a first region of each area of sheetbetween each pair of cuts in the first pair of lines adjacent andextending laterally from the respective connecting cuts defines a rearsection of the pocket, and a second remaining region of each area ofsheet between each pair of cuts in the first pair of lines defines alower bridge portion.

Preferably a number of transverse fold lines, which may be score-linesor perforated or provided by any convenient means are provided at eachend of each bridge portion to facilitate folding of the blank to formthe pockets.

Each are defining a front portion may be provided with a cut defining atab which may be folded to secure product when held in a pocket.

Each cut defining the tab may be any convenient shape such as a ‘c’shape and may be provided with an appropriate fold line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a length of display device in accordance witha the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a section of the display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a length of display device showing detentmeans and product; and

FIG. 4 is a plan of a length of display device in a flat condition;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 a display device 10 comprises anelongate strip 12 of sheet material having a plurality of productcarrying pockets 14 each pocket 14 being provided with a pair oflaterally spaced front sections 16, 18 in a plane substantially parallelto the plane of an adjacent rear section 20 of the elongate strip 12,each front section 16, 18 being attached to said rear section 20 at itsupper edge 22, 24 respectively, by means of upper bridge portions 26,28, further attachment between a further section 30 of the rear section20 and the front sections 16, 18 is provided by a lower bridge portion32 intermediate the front sections 16, 18 and which is attached adjacentthe lower edges 34, 36 thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 2 the pockets 14a, 14 b, 14 c etc., are arranged one above another so that the frontsections 16 a, 18 a of an upper pocket 14 a are in integral and coplanarattachment with the rear sections 20 a, 30 a of the pocket 14 bimmediately below.

It will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and, in particular, in FIG. 3, thatproduct 38 is held, in this embodiment, in the space defined by thefront and rear sections 16, 18, 20, 30 and the lower bridge portion 32.As can be seen further in FIG. 3 the display device, for additionalsecurity and to prevent accidental removal of products, are providedwith tabs 40 a, 42 a; 40 b, 42 b; etc. in each front portion to firmlyengage the product when located in the pocket.

In FIG. 4 a blank 100 for a display device of the type having aplurality of product carrying pockets has an elongate sheet 102 having apair of substantially parallel spaced lines of longitudinal cuts 104 a,106 a; 104 b, 106 b; etc. running substantially centrally along at leastone section of the sheet material, a second pair of substantiallyparallel spaced lines of longitudinal cuts 108 a, 110 a; 108 b, 110 b;etc. running one each intermediate the first pair of lines and arespective edge 112, 114 of the sheet, adjacent cuts in the first andsecond lines being joined by a connecting cut 116 a, 118 a; 116 b, 118b; etc. between the leading and of a respective cut in the second pairof lines and the trailing end of a respective cut in the first pair oflines so that each area of sheet between each respective pair of cuts inthe first pair of lines and a respective nearest portion edge of thesheet defines a front section 120 a, 122 a; 120 b, 122 b; etc. of apocket, each area of sheet between each respective pair of cuts in thesecond pair of lines and a respective nearest portion edge of the sheetdefines an upper bridge portion 124 a, 126 a; 124 b, 126 b; etc. a firstregion of each area of sheet between each pair of cuts in the first pairof lines adjacent and extending laterally from the respective connectingcuts defines a rear section 128 a; 128 b; etc. of the pocket, and asecond remaining region of each area of sheet between each pair of cutsin the first pair of lines defines a lower bridge portion 130 a; 130 b;etc.

A number of transverse score-lines 132 a, 134 a, 136 a, 138 a; 140 a,142 a; 132 b, 134 b, 136 b, 138 b; 140 b, 142 b; etc. are provided ateach end of each bridge portion 124 a, 126 a, 130 a; etc. to facilitatefolding of the blank to form the pockets.

In the embodiment illustrated each area defining a front portion isprovided with a ‘c’ shape cut 144 a, 146 a; 144 b, 146 b; etc. definingtabs, having a fold line 148 a, 150 a; 148 b, 150 b; etc., which tabsmay be folded to secure product when held in a pocket. See FIG. 3 fortabs in use.

1. A display device comprising an elongate strip of sheet materialhaving a plurality of product carrying pockets, each pocket beingprovided with a pair of laterally spaced front sections in a planesubstantially parallel to a plane of an adjacent rear section of theelongate strip, each front section being attached to the rear section ofthe elongate strip, at or adjacent an upper edge of each front section,via an upper bridge portion, wherein the front sections are alsoattached to the elongate strip via at least one lower bridge located ator adjacent lower edges of the pockets, and the pockets being arrangedone above another so that the front sections of an upper pocket are inintegral and coplanar attachment with a rear section of a pocketimmediately below.
 2. A display device as in claim 1 wherein one or bothof the front sections of each pocket is provided with a detent which isconfigured to engage the product when located in the pocket.
 3. Adisplay device as in claim 2 wherein a detent is provided in both frontsections of each pocket, and each detent comprises a tab adapted to abuteither side of the product.
 4. A display device as in claim 3 whereinthe tab is integral with the front section.
 5. A display device as inclaim 1 wherein the upper and lower bridge portions are integral withareas of the front and rear sections.
 6. A display device as in claim 1wherein the upper and lower bridge portions are integral with respectiveareas of the front and rear sections and are provided by parts whichextend therebetween substantially at right angles to substantiallyparallel planes, said parts being defined by fold-lines adapted to allowthe bridge portions to remain substantially at right angles to theparallel planes at least during use.
 7. A display device as in claim 1wherein there is provided a plurality of pockets arranged continuouslyin stepped arrangement.
 8. A display device as in claim 7 wherein thestepped arrangement is interrupted by an intermediate flat section ofelongate strip, wherein the flat section is configured to facilitate afold.
 9. A display device as in claim 1 wherein the display device isconfigured to be folded at least once along its length so that thedisplay device may be packed in a carton or other container forshipment.
 10. A display device as in claim 1 wherein the device isconfigured to attach to other display apparatus.
 11. A display device asin claim 10 wherein a head of the display device comprises a hole orslot.
 12. A display device as in claim 10 further comprisingself-adhesive tape on a head of the display device.
 13. A display deviceas in claim 1 wherein the display device is configured to be split,wherein the display device comprises at least one perforation.
 14. Ablank for a display device having a plurality of product carryingpockets comprising an elongate sheet of material having a pair ofsubstantially parallel spaced lines of longitudinal cuts runningsubstantially centrally along at least one section of the sheetmaterial, a second pair of substantially parallel spaced lines oflongitudinal cuts running intermediate the first pair of lines and arespective edge of the sheet, adjacent cuts in the first and secondlines being joined by a connecting cut thereby defining a front sectionof a pocket, each area of sheet between each respective pair of cuts inthe second pair of lines and a respective nearest edge of the sheetdefines an upper bridge portion, a first region of each area of sheetbetween each pair of cuts in the first pair of lines adjacent andextending laterally from the respective connecting cuts defines a rearsection of the pocket, and a second remaining region of each area ofsheet between each pair of cuts in the first pair of lines defines alower bridge portion.
 15. A blank for a display device as in claim 14wherein there is provided a number of transverse fold lines, whereineach end of each bridge portion is configured to facilitate folding ofthe blank to form the pockets.
 16. A blank for a display device as inclaim 14 wherein each line defining a front portion is provided with acut defining a tab which is foldable to secure product when held in apocket.
 17. A blank for a display device as in claim 16 wherein each cutdefining the tab has a shape ‘c’ shape and is provided with a fold line.